MADURAI: Alarmed by the growing dependence of students on tobacco products like ‘Cool Lip’ allegedly smuggled into Tamil Nadu from neighboring states, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court recently ordered the central government to give the necessary instructions to all States. to ensure these products are banned nationwide.

Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the order on a bail application filed by one Aunestraja, who was arrested for possessing Cool Lip packets in August 2024. Noting that at least 10 such applications are filed before him each day, the judge said a more in-depth review of the case had been carried out. Petitions have revealed that despite the ban, huge quantities of banned tobacco products are being smuggled from neighboring states into Tennessee, targeting school students.

Even according to data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, 8.5% of students in the age group of 13-15 use tobacco. An estimated 5,500 children (in India) are introduced to tobacco consumption every day and 55% of them become completely addicted to it before the age of 20, the judge added. “This menace can leave our children with corrupted body, mind and soul,” he observed, and suo motu implored the central and state governments, food safety authorities and food manufacturers tobacco as parties to the case.

After hearing from all parties concerned about the existing legal barriers against the threat, the measures taken by the government to curb it and the difficulties it entails, among other things, the judge issued a series of instructions to all stakeholders. Prosecuting authorities have been told that whenever a tobacco product is seized near a school, offenders should also be jailed under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and the Protection Act. Safety and Food Standards Act 2006. Agencies should ensure that not only the seller, but also the manufacturer, distributor, officers and employees of the company are all prosecuted, he added.